Gordon has 3 RBIs and Royals beat Rangers 10-9 in bottom of the 9th

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Royals beat Rangers in bottom of the 9th

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Willie Bloomquist scored on Alexi Ogando’s wild pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and Alex Gordon drove in three runs as the Kansas City Royals beat the Texas Rangers 10-9 on Tuesday night.

Wilson Betemit opened the ninth with a double and Bloomquist pinch-ran for him. Brayan Pena walked with one out. Bloomquist stole third with one out and scored on Ogando’s wild pitch with Yuniesky Betancourt at the plate.

Jakim Soria (1-2) picked up the victory, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth. Rangers left-hander Darren Oliver (1-2), who started the ninth, took the loss and has allowed 11 earned runs in 10 innings in his past 13 outings.

Texas got home runs from Vladimir Guerrero, Michael Young, David Murphy and Mitch Moreland. Guerrero hit a two-run homer in a three-run fifth, while the other home runs were with the bases empty. Young went 4 for 5 with two RBIs and was a triple shy of the cycle.

Rangers left-hander Cliff Lee, who is winless in his past five starts with an 8.28 ERA while allowing 27 earned runs on 44 hits in 29 1-3 innings, got a no-decision. He left after 4 2-3 innings, his shortest outing since Sept. 20, 2009, allowing seven runs, three unearned, and 10 hits.

The Royals scored five runs in the fifth to take a 9-6 lead. Gordon and Jai Miller each contributed two-run doubles in the inning. Mike Aviles’ two-out single scored Miller with the final run of the fifth.

Royals reliever Jesse Chavez, however, failed to hold the lead for one inning. He gave up a solo home run to Moreland and consecutive two-out doubles to Elvis Andrus, Young and Josh Hamilton for two more runs.

Royals right-hander Sean O’Sullivan, who is 0-4 with two no-decisions in six starts since being acquired in a July 22 trade with the Los Angeles Angels, left after five innings, allowing six runs and nine hits, including three home runs.

Gordon had a run-producing single in the Royals’ three-run third. All the runs were unearned after a throwing error by Lee. Billy Butler singled home Gregor Blanco with the first run of the inning, while Kila Ka’aihue’s fielder’s choice groundout scored Aviles with the other.

Betancourt homered, his 14th, in the second for the first Royals run.

Guerrero’s fifth-inning home run with Hamilton aboard broke a 4-4 tie. Hamilton’s single to right scored Andrus, who led off the inning with a single.

The Royals beat the Rangers for only the second time in eight games this season.

Notes: Rangers manager Ron Washington said Hamilton would not be in the lineup Wednesday after having a shot after Tuesday’s game in his sore right knee. RHP Rich Harden, who came off the DL Aug. 23 after having right shoulder tendinitis, will not be going back into the rotation after going 5-5 with a 5.17 ERA in 17 starts. Harden was penciled to start Friday, but LHP Derek Holland will start instead at Minnesota. Harden has not pitched in relief since 2007, making three bullpen appearances with Oakland. The Royals will activate RHP Gil Meche, who is on the 60-day DL with a shoulder injury, on Wednesday when rosters can be expanded. Meche will be used as a reliever.